In my eyes, Hegel’s theory of a thesis and an antithesis was so broad that it could have been misinterpreted. My hypothesis is that if Hegel’s process of negation prohibited the integration of other cultures such as Africans and stopped it from becoming unified, then there was never an attainable synthesis. How Hegel perceives Africa as underdeveloped makes them disqualified of proposing a thesis or an antithesis. Just as if an infant has no position to argue against their parents, Africa has no position to argue against their hierarchical parents (in this case, Europeans). There is no ground for Africans, Americans, or Asians to make an opposition based on Hegel’s prehistorical perspective. This can only lead me to believe that Hegel’s philosophy came from racist roots. Even though his relationship of thesis and antithesis is proven by the relationship of many other ideas and objects, it isn’t as visible on his view on race because there isn’t a possible synthesis.
Hegel’s racial views have blinded them in this case and therefore he isn’t a true Geist. I do believe that Hegel was approaching a theory of a different idea though-Dogmatism. Dogmatism is “the tendency to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true, without consideration of evidence or the opinions of others. Instead of approaching the relationship with Africans with a paternalistic nature, I believe that Hegel was telling the Africans of their belief with this certainty as a result of his racist judgement. Another reason I think Hegel supports Dogmatism is because it is really just an argument based on circumstances that give a mental justification of why something is. Hegel’s teachings are way too vague in my eyes. Even though he does this to give an explanation to all of reality, no final opposition can ever be made with justification. If this is the case, then Hegel's concepts and questions will only show a separation of reflection and will never reach a resolution.
I know my thoughts here presented may seem a little scattered but you have to realize they are from the blurred mind of Hegel. My questions are generally over the idea of Dogmatism. Where do you think the differences lie in the teachings of Hegel in comparison to someone that practices Dogmatism? Also, do you think if Hegel didn’t have a racial scrutiny his monism would be flawed?
I think that you make an interesting point, that Africans are not part of the synthesis because they were not able to have a voice (similar to how parents treat children). In Hegel's time period, many people allowed their bias towards Europeans negatively affect their scholarly pursuits.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe we read enough Hegel to really look at his philosophy. Our reading was a small section. However, I do not think Hegel would think he is a dogmatist. His philosophy generally does lay things out in a process, attempting to look at the various things that would relate. I do agree that he is wrong when it comes to racial relations, though he did have one of the most generous views of his time period.